Season 2, Episode 1: Friday 17 May 2019

The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard, Channel 5, Friday 17th May at 8pm

The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard returns for a second series about the world’s most popular steam railway. The colourful cast of characters including loco shed manager Piglet, boss Chris and ticket collector Bert - show pride, passion and true Yorkshire grit to try and keep things on track.

Episode Synopsis: Episode 1 - The Heat is on!

The summer heatwave brings record numbers of visitors to the railway as it hits peak season. Delight turns to despair when there is a real threat that the railway will be prevented from running steam engines. Steam engines naturally create sparks and operating through the National Park when it's tinder dry may spell trouble. Many other heritage lines have to cancel steam services but it costs £135,000 a week to run the NYMR and the peak season is when they make most of their money. They simply can’t afford to stop running steam.

Through a series of expensive preventative measures including hiring in a couple of heritage diesels and having the railway's fire-truck follow every engine General Manager, Chris, manages to hold off this sword of Damocles and keep steam running.

The engine shed is also busy trying to get star loco Eric Treacy steaming again. The engine is a stalwart of NYMR’s fleet and the railway is desperate to get her back into service during the peak ‘gold’ timetable when they run more services than any other steam railway in the country.

Eric has been in overhaul for 2 years but her progress back into traffic isn’t a smooth one. On her first run out of the shed she runs brilliantly but unfortunately the brakes don’t work. Not ideal on a machine that weighs over 100 tonnes! After many other set-backs the engine finally makes her return much to the joy of the assembled engine shed crew. Getting these majestic machines back pulling trains again is a proud moment for all.

As the dry spell goes on the railway prays for rain. Eventually it comes. This is still Yorkshire after all. There is great joy and relief all round. The diesels come home and normal service resumes!

Never travelled along the heritage line?Book now and travel along 24-miles of Yorkshire's stunning scenery!

The NYMR trust relies heavily on donations and the work of its many volunteers. The 180-year old railway already invests around £1 million annually but there’s only so much the fare box can generate and much more is needed for the railway bridges and its 50-100 year old vehicles to remain viable. Donate today and help us sustain the railway for future generations to enjoy! Find out more www.nymr.co.uk/YMJ

The NYMR cares for operating and developing the railway it owns from Pickering to Grosmont.

The heritage railway operates over Network Rail from Grosmont to Whitby.

The charity provides a high quality, safe and authentic evocation of the steam age for the public.

The NYMR is an Educational Charitable Trust. Providing education for all ages.

Related

There is a well-established connection between romance and steam. Two years ago the railway got a wedding licence and it’s now become a popular if slightly unusual wedding venue with 22 booked this season.

In the early hours of Sunday 23rd July 2017, North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s (NYMR’s) historic teak carriages were deliberately vandalised. The carriages were parked in the siding, at the far side of the main visitor car park at Pickering.